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HowTo Schema Generator

Fill in your guide's steps, time, supplies and tools to generate clean HowTo JSON-LD you can paste straight into your page head.

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Your HowTo JSON-LD

Paste this inside a script tag with type application/ld+json in your page head. Leave cost, supplies or tools blank if they do not apply to your guide.

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A HowTo schema generator builds the schema.org JSON-LD that describes a set of steps for completing a task, packaging your guide's title, steps, supplies, tools and time into a structured format search engines and AI systems can parse without guesswork. This generator fills in every field for you as you type and updates the code live, so you can copy a complete, valid block the moment your guide is ready.

Why HowTo schema still matters after Google's rich result removal

Google removed HowTo rich results from mobile search in August 2023 and from desktop the following month, and as of 2026 there is no HowTo rich result shown on any Google surface. The schema.org HowTo type itself is still completely valid and adding it will not cause errors or warnings, it simply no longer produces the expandable step boxes it once did in Google Search directly.

That does not make the markup pointless. Clean, unambiguous step data is exactly the kind of structured signal that AI answer engines such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews rely on when deciding what to extract and cite, since a well-labeled sequence of steps is far easier to quote accurately than the same instructions buried in flowing prose. Other search engines and voice assistants that have not dropped HowTo support can also still use it.

What the generator includes in the JSON-LD

The output always includes the guide's name and the step array, since those are the properties that actually define a HowTo. Description, image, totalTime, estimatedCost, supply and tool are added only when you fill them in, so an unfinished field never produces an empty or misleading property in your schema. Total time is converted automatically into the ISO 8601 duration format schema.org expects, for example one hour and thirty minutes becomes PT1H30M.

Each step becomes a HowToStep object with a name and a text value. Separate the two with a pipe character if you want a short, distinct step name, or just write the instructions and the generator will build a short name from the first few words automatically.

How to use the generated code correctly

Copy the output and paste it inside a script tag with type application/ld+json in the head of the exact page the guide lives on. Run it through Google's Rich Results Test or the Schema Markup Validator before you publish to confirm it parses cleanly, then keep the markup in sync any time you edit the visible steps on the page, since structured data that contradicts the visible content is against Google's structured data guidelines.

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FAQ

HowTo Schema Generator: questions, answered

What is HowTo schema and what does it do?
HowTo schema is a schema.org structured data type that describes a set of steps for completing a task, such as software instructions or a DIY guide. It uses the JSON-LD format shown here to tell search engines and AI systems the guide's title, steps, required time, tools and supplies in a machine-readable way.
Does HowTo schema still create rich results in Google Search?
No. Google removed HowTo rich results from mobile search in August 2023 and from desktop in September 2023, and as of 2026 there is no HowTo rich result on any Google surface. The schema.org type itself is still valid and will not cause errors, it simply no longer produces the expandable step boxes it once did.
If Google dropped the rich result, is HowTo schema still worth adding?
Yes, for a different reason than before. Clean, well-structured step data makes it easier for AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews to extract and cite your instructions accurately, since these systems rely heavily on structured, unambiguous markup when deciding what to quote. It can also still be used by other search engines and assistants that have not dropped support.
What is the difference between the step name and step text?
The name is a short label for the step, similar to a step heading, while the text is the full instruction. This generator lets you write both by separating them with a pipe character, for example "Open settings | Go to the account tab and click settings". If you only type instructions without a pipe, it builds a short name automatically from the first few words.
Should I include estimatedCost and supply if my guide has no cost?
No, leave those fields blank. This generator only adds estimatedCost, supply and tool properties to the output when you actually fill them in, so an empty field never produces a misleading or empty schema property.
Where do I put the generated code?
Paste it inside a script tag with type application/ld+json in the head of the page the guide lives on, then validate it with Google's Rich Results Test or Schema Markup Validator before publishing.

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